The coalition parties are scheduled to submit their lists of prospective cabinet members by tomorrow and the complete list of cabinet members is expected to be finalised this week, the new prime minister said today.
Regarding the quota of ministers from her Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that they will convene an internal meeting tomorrow.
She mentioned that she will hold personal discussions with the parties that have agreed to join her government, to complete its formation as soon as possible.
Meanwhile the Bhumjaithai party has submitted its list of eight proposed ministers, according to an informed party source.
The nominees are Anutin Charnvirakul, deputy prime minister and interior minister, Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob, education minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, labour minister, Supamas Isarabhakdi, minister of higher education, science, research and innovations, Songsak Thongsri, deputy interior minister, Chada Thaised, deputy interior minister, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, deputy education minister and Napintorn Srisunpang.
Paetongtarn, the leader of Pheu Thai, won the parliamentary vote last Friday, to replace Srettha Thavisin, who was removed from office in a Constitutional Court ruling due to his appointment in a cabinet reshuffle of Phichit Chuenban, a lawyer who was jailed for six months for contempt of court.
The court ruled that the appointment of Phichit, who has a tainted background, violated the Constitution.
Paetongtarn told reporters that, therefore, the review of the backgrounds and qualifications of each minister under her government will take time, to ensure that no similar mistakes are made.
She said the entire process is expected to take no more than one month.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai’s deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai, said that the coalition parties are required to send their lists of potential ministers to Dr Prommin Lertsuridej.
“Dr Prommin, the former PM’s secretary-general, will then forward the completed lists to Natjaree Anantasilp, secretary-general to the Cabinet secretariat, and then to the Council of State for background checks,” Phumtham said.
Responding to questions over the future of the coalition Palang Pracharath party, whose leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwan did not attend parliament on Friday to vote for the new premier, Phumtham said Prawit would be the best person to answer that question.
“Maybe he did not want to join the new government or something,” he added.
Prawit had not attended any political functions hosted by the former Srettha administration or parliamentary sessions, even though he went to parliament on many occasions.
